Wu Jian'an, "Rainbow Cloud - Floating," 2012

In the hands of Wu Jian’an, the traditional Chinese medium of paper-cut becomes a means of exploring an idiosyncratic range of iconographic source material culled from all over the world. One of the two contemporary artists who represented China at the 2017 Venice Biennale, Wu Jian’an has pushed the boundaries of traditional paper-cut techniques into the contemporary realm. In his work "Rainbow Cloud - Floating," Wu Jian’an layers hundreds of paper-cut forms to assemble swirling, ribbon-like clouds. Dotted with petite mythical creatures, the wispy clouds twist and turn with dreamlike movements, patterned with a dazzling palette of blues and greens. Within his "Rainbow" series, Wu Jian'an treats clouds as links between the physical and spiritual realms, uniting humans and nature by its continuous circulation.

Colored paper, collage. Framed.